BANGOR- The Southern Aroostook Warriors knocked down 13 three-pointers on Saturday, and would roll to a 78-46 win over the Machias Bulldogs in a Maine Principals’ Association Class D Boys North Regional Championship game played at the Cross Insurance Center.
#1 Southern Aroostook immediately jumped out to a 9-0 lead on a Buddy Porter jumper, a three-pointer by Dylan Burpee, a Burpee layup, and a rebound and putback layup by Graham Siltz. They hit four 3-pointers in the opening quarter and would lead 24-5. Machias didn’t score a field goal until over five minutes expired in that opening stanza. They outscored the Bulldogs 15-9 in the second as they built the advantage to 39-14, that included a three-pointer by Drake Weston at the buzzer. The Warriors went on to hit seven more three-pointers in the second half and would lead by as many as 36, in advancing to their second straight state title appearance.
Dylan Burpee finished with 25 points and five steals (five 3-pointers). Weston had 22 points, four rebounds, three assists (also five 3-pointers). Siltz contributed 17 points and 10 rebounds. Also scoring for 21-0 Southern Aroostook was Porter with six points, Trafton Russell five, and Brennan Burpee with three points. Shane Feeney and Kason Ferguson both had 12 points in the loss for #2 seed Machias. Feeney added 13 rebounds. Bobby Richardson had eight points, Kaden Demerest six, Mickey Fitzsimmons four, and Ethan Foss along with Ethan Libby had two points a piece. The Bulldogs season ends with a 16-5 record, losing their second straight regional final to the Warriors. Southern Aroostook, who beat Forest Hills last season in the state final 82-61 for their first gold ball since 1991, will face Forest Hills again next Saturday, March 4th in Bangor at the Cross Insurance Center at 2:45 for the Class D state crown.
Recap by Chris Lessner/Photos by Anthony DelMonaco
